Difference Between Concept and Conception

Key Difference – Concept vs Conception

Concept and conception are two similar words that are created from the same Latin root concipere. Although these nouns are sometimes used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Concept basically refers to a general idea or understanding of something. Conception refers to the way in which something is perceived or the ability to form or understand mental concepts and abstractions. This is the key difference between concept or conception.

What Does Concept Mean?

A concept is a general idea or understanding of something. It is synonymous with idea or notion. The noun concept is sometimes also used to refer to a plan or an original idea. Concept can also refer to an abstract idea. For example,

The original concept was for a building with five stories.

The teacher tried to explain the concept of structuralism, but the students found it too complicated.

This concept is burrowed from structural engineering.

He was familiar with the basic concepts of psychology.

He did not explain the concept of free will.

Concept can be used as an adjective to describe a model with the experimental or strikingly different design. For example, a concept car.

He explained the concept of solidarity to his teammates.

What Does Conception Mean?

The noun conception has two major meanings. Conception can refer to the action of conceiving a child, which can either involve fertilization or implantation. Conception can also refer to the capacity, function, or process of forming or understanding mental concepts and abstractions. Another meaning of conception is the way in which something is perceived or regarded.

This idea was in conception before the end of the war; therefore, it should not be taken as a reaction to the end of war.

He was involved in the project from its conception to implementation.

This resulted in the conception of a new product.

The male officers had no conception of the problems faced by women.

The Western conception of privacy is different from the East.

Our language has a vocabulary to describe things he had no conception of, so he found learning our language difficult.

He has a clear conception of how this process works.

However, the noun conception is sometimes used as a synonym for concept in general usage.

They were involved in this project from the conception to the end product.

What is the difference between Concept and Conception?

Definition:

Concept is a general idea or understanding of something.

Conception is the ability to form or understand mental concepts and abstractions.